Shoe



Aug- 20, 1929- B. J. SILVER 1,724,975

SHOE

Filed Feb. 11, 192B lll/110171710111104 f f3 INVENTOP WITNEssEs Bag/amm J. Silver f/w/ BY Qhf/Wm- )dab ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 2o, 1929. l

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

AApplication filed February 11, 1928. Serial No. 253,598.

V,This invention relates to shoes, and I use this term in its broadest sense to cover boots, shoes or any other analogous type of footwear. p

5 An object of the invention is to provide an improved cushioning support which provides resilient mounting for the heel bone and the first and fifth heads of the metatarsal bones, hence giving a three-point or tripod-like cushioning support for the bones y of the foot and, in addition, provides a raised, resilient, cushioning support for the metatarsal arch under the second, third and fourth heads of the metatarsal bones of the foot.

My invention also includes the provision of a cushioning member under the inner sole having an improved arrangement of air grooves, pockets or spaces communicating with openings at the forward portion of the inner sole, or at any other place desired, whereby the Weight of the body in walking causes air to be forced out from under the insole and out of the shoe and then sucked back into the shoe and under the insole also that an improved action is obtained to insure a circulation of air in the shoe to keep the shoe, stocking and foot dry under all conditions.

3 My improved construction and arrangement of parts has many advant es, some of which may be enumerated as fo lows:

I prevent irritation of the weight-bearing parts of the foot,-the plantar tuberosity of the oscalcis and the heads of the first and fifth metatarsal bones. In accomplishing this I provide a rubber` or other cushion of desired thickness beneath these weight-bear ing points and provide an elevation or arch support beneath the inner sc le of the shoe and of an area sufficient forithe purpose.

My improved construction will most eectively absorb the shock as the heel bone strikes the pavement at the commencement of a step in walking. The same effect in a much lesser degree will be felt in the first and fifth heads of the metatarsal bones having the cushion similarly placed beneath the same.

In prolonged standing and Walking this arrangement will add much 'tothe comfort of the wearer as well as prevent irritation and the formation of callouses, corns, etc.

The metatarsal arch of thehuman foot is 55 much abused from the wearing of im roper' shoes consisting of high heels, pointe toes,

' and 'underv which at in Mortons toe, metatarsalgia, enlargement of the heads of the bones, with the formation of callouses, coms, warts, etc. To protect that part of the foot known as the metatarsal arch, a` region formed by the heads of the five metatarsal bones, and prevent the strain which ultimately results in the dro ping of the second, third and fourth heads of the metatarsal bones, and where alread broken down to restore to a normal approxlmation, I have provided my improved constructlon and arrangement of parts, all of whichA will be more fully hereinafter de scribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawin F1gure 1 is a view in longitudinal section through a shoe, or portion of a shoe, em-. bodying my invention and illustrating the pos1t1on of a foot and foot skeleton in proper relation to the shoe;

F1gure 2 is a sectional plan view of Fi .re 1; Y f

Igure 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 3-:3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section on the 11ne 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure4 5 is a top plan -view of the sole cushioning and supporting member;

Fi5gure-6 is an inverted plan view of Figure Ifoot, resulting u Figure 7 is a plan view of the heel cushioning and supporting member.

The reference character 1 indicates generally a shoe, boot or any other analogous foot covering, and 2 is the inner sole which ma. be of leather or any other suitable materia, and under which at the sole portion of the shoe a sole cushioning member 3 is provided, the heel portion of the shoe a heel cushioning member 4 is provided. These cushioning members may be made of rubber or any other ioning material.

The sole cushioning member 3 has on its upper portion preferably integral enlar ements 5, 6 and 7. The enlargements 5 an 7 grooves 16 in its are preferably although not necessarily of circular convex form fitting in similarlyshaped recesses 8 in the under face of the inner sole 2. rIhe enlargement 7 is longer and higher than the enlargements 5 and 6, and While fitting in a recess 9 the under face of the inner sole 2 causes said inner sole t0 elevate, forming a raised arch of the desired height, as indicated clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings. l

The cushioning enlargements 5 and 7 are directl under and provide cushioning supports or the first and fifth metatarsal bones, and the enlargement or support 7 forms ya cushioning support for the metatarsal arch under the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones.

The heel cushioning member 4 is also provided with a raised cushioning enlargement 10 located in a recess 11 in the under face'of.

the heel portion of the inner sole directly under the heel bone of the foot.

The cushioning members 3 and 4 constitute in effect air pumps, and this may be accomplished by providing openings v12 and connecting recesses 13 in the under faces of the cushioning members, particular reference belng made to thecushioning member 3. In other words, thel cushioning member is grooved or otherwise formed so as to pro.

vide air spaces therein which are in communication with any number o-f openings 14 desired, preferably at the forward end or toe portion of the shoe, and registering Wlth openings 15 in the inner sole 2.

The heel cushioning member 4 may have any desired number and arrangement of under face, communicating with any desired number of openings 17, preferably at the rear portion, and communicating with an opening 18 in the inner sole 2.

It is perfectly apparent that, b the above described and illustrated or ana ogous arrangement of grooves, openings or spaces in the various faces of the cushioning members 3 and 4, such spaces will constitute air compartments or chambers, and when the weight of the foot is on these cushioning members in the act of walking or other exercise the air willbe forced outwardly through the openings in the inner sole, and when the weight is relieved the air will be sucked back into said chambers or spaces and the action will be similar to breathing, so that fresh air will be maintained in the shoe at all times to keep the 'foot and stocking'. as well as the shoe dry and free from moisture either from the foot or from other causes, and while I have illustrated what I'believe to be a preferred embodiment of my intention it is of course to be understood that this general idea of forming air spaces or pockets which are compressed to force out air and allowed to expand is well within the scope vmetatarsal arch of my invention, also to so construct or shape tie cushioning members as to carry out this 1 ea.

Where openings are provided in the cushionin members as shown in the drawings, all of said openings except the openings 14 are covered by the inner soles but it is perfectly obvious that the invention is not limited to the arrangement of openings and grooves and recesses as shown.

The cushion'under the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones or heads of said bones elevates them to that part of the insole directly under the arch and will prevent and protect that part of the foot from straining or weakening. On the other hand, the invention will prevent and protect insoles, and cure metatarsal pathologies due to mechanical disturbances.

M shoe, therefore, not only gives the desire support and cushioning mounting for the foot but insures the circulation of air,

and I do not wish to be limited to the speciic details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a shoe, of an inner sole in the shoe having recesses in its under face, and a cushioning member under the inner sole, upwardly projecting enlargements on the cushioning member located in the recesses in the inner sole and constituting supports for the rst and fifth metatarsal bones, and an enlargement for the under the second, third and fourthmetatarsal bones, the last mentioned enlargement being higher than the other enlargements and causing the inner sole to elevate. 2. The combination with a shoe and an inner sole in the shoe having recesses in its under face, of a cushioning member under the inner sole at the forward portion of the shoe, a second cushioning member under the heel portion of the inner sole, enlargements lOl on said cushioning members located in the the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones of the foot, and openings in the inner sole through which air is forced outwardly and sucke inwardly by the compression and expansion of the cushioning member due to the action and weight of the foot thereon.

4. The combination with a shoe and an inner sole therein, cushioning members un- 5 der the sole and heel portions of the inner sole, said cushioning members having grooves and recesses 1n their under faces, said inner sole at its toe and heel portions having openings therein communicating 10 with the air spaces of the cushionin members, and enlargements on the cus ioning members supporting the heel and heads of first and fifth metatarsal bones and providing a support under the metatarsal arch formed by the heads of second, third and 15 fourth metatarsal bones of the foot, said air spaces extending into and under said enlargements.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 10th 20 day ozFebruary A. D. 1928.

BENJAMIN JOSEPH SILVER. 

